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Canada Travel Guide

Discover the destination Culture and Discovery

5 reasons to travel to Canada

Why go to Canada? What are the reasons that could encourage you to go to explore this "country continent" which is almost unique in the world? For a family holiday or for an adventure alone, here are 5 reasons that make Canada a dream destination!

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Quebec, a small part of France
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Meet Inuits
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Mythical national parks
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Discover history
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The country of extremes

1. Quebec, a small part of France

If you travel abroad and you happen to speak a little French, you may want to practise it and discuss with locals: if so, Quebec is perfect for you! This large Canadian region is a historical stronghold of French speakers which defends its heritage with heart and soul.

2. Meet Inuits

Nunavik, Nunavut, Yukon, North Western Territories: there are so many spaces, regions and territories where the historical people of the Arctic and the ice fields continue to live with their rituals and their thousand year old customs. Although threatened, they're fighting for their rights to be recognised and for their status to be protected.

3. Mythical national parks

Banff, Jasper, the Rocky Mountains: the mere mention of these parks seems to be a crazy invitation to explore and to walk in some of the most beautiful scenery that it is possible to find in Canada, all in an array of changing colours according to the season.

4. Discover history

Did you know that the Vikings were the first ones to embark on the shores of Canada in L'Anse-aux-Meadows in Newfoundland? Did you also know that the gold rush took place in the Yukon territory? Canada is a country loaded with history whose wealth you don't even suspect!

5. The country of extremes

Admiring the Northern Lights whilst submerged in a natural hot water spring. Getting lost in the tundra travelling in a dog sled. Experiencing days where the sun never sleeps. Coming across a bear, an elk or a wolf on the bend of a path. Doing canoeing in a nature reserve. Eating beaver in a bar in Montreal: Canada is the country of all extremes!

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Why travel to Canada?

Travelling to Canada is not as difficult in terms of access as it was before. The country of open spaces, French speakers, and nature has become very accessible and only awaits one more thing: your visit!

You should go if...

Perhaps you love untouched open spaces, you appreciate walks in nature and you have always dreamed of being able to walk alone for hours.
Or perhaps you appreciate being able to practise some French on your holidays and you love the typical accent of people from Quebec (which should never be mocked).
Unexpected culinary experiences will attract you: poutine and beaver tail in Quebec, bison, red grouse or even caribou, all excellent on the barbecue.
Long road trips over several thousand kilometres will make you dream, from one ocean to another and across landscapes which are as beautiful as they are varied.
You want to experience the beauty of the Northern Lights, the pleasure of bathing in a natural hot water spring when the outside temperature is below zero.
You want to discover different urban areas to those in your country, with Montreal the multi-cultural city, Vancouver the American one, or even Quebec the European one!

When to go in Canada?

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The best time to visit Canada is hard to define. Winter's great for skiing and summer preferable for outdoor activities and touring the larger towns. Canada also has resplendent Springs and Autumns. So, it really depends on what you're planning to do once in Canada. In general, winter should be avoided as it gets extremely cold with Artic conditions in the Great North. And winter is long in Canada, lasting from December to April...

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What to see in Canada?

Top places to discover.

Percé, from the path with five observation points, Mount Saint-Anne under ice.

Parc national de Forillon

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Parc National de la Gaspésie

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View over Percé Rock from Bonaventure Island National Park

Parc National de l’île Bonaventure

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Réserve Faunique des Laurentides

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Prepare your trip in Canada

Canada is a country that is well known to tourists but some practical advice and information is always useful to help prepare a trip!

What documents are needed for traveling to Canada?

For trips to Canada of less than 90 days Europeans only need a valid passport, a return air ticket and the money necessary to fund their stay. From March 2016 visitors who don't need a visa will be required to get an eTA (electronic Travel Authorisation) which costs CA$7 and is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires (whichever comes first). The eTA is completed online and should help you to go through customs more quickly as you will avoid being questioned by the Customs Officers at the frontier.

Health advise

You don't need to take any particular precautions for travelling in Canada. You should take out medical insurance, because medicine and hospital treatments are expensive in Canada. For more information you can look at the government website.

Language

Canada has two official languages: English and French.

Time difference

There are 6 time zones in Canada so the time difference will vary according to which town you are in. For example, Quebec is 5 hours behind the UK: when it is noon in London it is 7 a.m. in Montreal.